Joanna Pilarczyk

Joanna Pilarczyk is a London-based contemporary figurative painter. Born in Poland, she studied at the Art University in Zielona Gora, where she earned a Master's degree in Visual Arts and Art Education.

Captivated by the vibrancy of paint, Pilarczyk uses a bold mixture of clashing colours, blending neon acrylics and oils to create sensual and striking portraits of acquaintances and friends within the community of North London. Her romantic compositions explore themes of relationships, diversity, womanhood, self-awareness, and acceptance. They convey melancholy and stillness, capturing a moment where the subjects are simply resting and free of responsibility.

In her recent work, Pilarczyk portrays mixed-race couples, young women, and men from her neighbourhood, representing diverse backgrounds and heritage.

Pilarczyk's artistic talent has earned her recognition and accolades. She was recently shortlisted for the Herbert Smith Freehills Portrait Award 2024 at the National Portrait Gallery and long-listed for the Jackson’s Art Prize in 2024. In 2023, she was the recipient of the Boynes Monthly Artist Award and a finalist for the International FiKVA Award for Figurative Painters and the Women United Art Prize in 2022. Her work has been exhibited nationally and internationally, including at prestigious venues like Mall Galleries at Women in Art Fair, Start Art Fair in Saatchi Gallery, and the Other Art Fair in Truman Brewery, London. Additionally, she showcased her newest paintings at a solo show with Oink Gallery, featuring pieces from her 'My Paradise' series.

Her artworks have crossed international borders, with her recent paintings exhibited at the Superfine Art Fair 2024 in New York and a solo show on Artsy curated by the Untitled Space Gallery. The works from the 'Intimate Times' series were exhibited at 33 Contemporary Gallery in Chicago, Mixx Atelier Gallery in Telluride, USA, and Kunstbehandlung in Munich, Germany.


https://www.joannapilarczyk.com/